Repeater of global input/output line

ABSTRACT

A repeater of a global input/output line includes a data transmitter including first and second drivers for outputting data signals of the global input/output line through different transmission routes in response to a transmission direction control signal, and a third driver for driving the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the data transmitter.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a repeater of a global input/output line.

BACKGROUND

In a semiconductor memory device, a global input/output line serves as a data transmission line for transmitting data between an input/output pin and a memory core during a read or write operation.

If the input/output line has a long length, great load is applied thereto so that the swing of the data signal, which is transmitted through the global input/output line, is prolonged during the read and write operation, thereby deteriorating the operational margin.

In order to solve this problem, a repeater is provided at a middle part of the global input/output line to improve the operational speed by distributing the load. In addition, it is necessary to transmit data in one direction from the global input/output line connected to the repeater according to the read or write operation relative to a bank.

FIG. 1 is a circuit view of a repeater provided in a global input/output line according to the related art.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional repeater of the global input/output line has a simple inverter logic.

In the case of transmitting data from A to B, if a transmission direction control signal CTRL has a high level, a control signal CTRLB has a low level. At this time, NMOSs of pull-down drivers N1 and N2 are turned ON and PMOSs of pull-up drivers P1 and P2 are also turned ON, so that data are transmitted from A to B. In addition, NMOSs of pull-down drivers N3 and N4 are turned OFF and PMOSs of pull-up drivers P3 and P4 are also turned OFF, so that data transmission from B to A is blocked.

In the case of transmitting data from B to A, if a transmission direction control signal CTRL has a low level, a control signal CTRLB has a high level. At this time, NMOSs of pull-down drivers N3 and N4 are turned ON and PMOSs of pull-up drivers P3 and P4 are also turned ON, so that data are transmitted from B to A. In addition, NMOSs of pull-down drivers N1 and N2 located in an “A” area are turned OFF and PMOSs of pull-up drivers P1 and P2 are also turned OFF, so that data transmission from A to B is blocked.

That is, the data can be transmitted from A to B or vice versa according to circumstances, so that the global input/output line can transmit the data signals in bi-direction.

However, such a repeater has a simple inverter structure, so it may cause great current consumption and increase delay time. That is, since the PMOS of the pull-up driver P2 and the NMOS of the pull-down driver N2 as well as the PMOS of pull-up driver P3 and the NMOS of the pull-down driver N3 are aligned in series in the repeater, driving force of a MOS transistor is reduced by a half.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a repeater of a global input/output line, capable of reducing current consumption and delay time, is provided.

In an embodiment of this disclosure, a repeater of a global input/output line comprises a data transmitter including first and second drivers for outputting data signals of the global input/output line through different transmission routes in response to a transmission direction control signal, and a data output unit including a third driver for driving the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the data transmitter.

In another embodiment, a repeater of a global input/output line comprises a first data transmitter including first and second drivers for outputting data signals of the global input/output line through different transmission routes in response to a transmission direction control signal, a third driver for driving the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the first data transmitter, a second data transmitter including fourth and fifth drivers for outputting data signals of the global input/output line through different transmission routes in response to the transmission direction control signal, and a second data output unit including a sixth driver for driving the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the second data transmitter, wherein the first data transmitter and the third driver or the second data transmitter and the sixth driver are enabled according to the transmission direction control signal to allow the global input/output line to transmit data signals in bi-direction.

The repeater of the global input/output line according to the present invention can reduce current consumption and can minimize delay time of data while maintaining bi-directional transmission.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the subject matter of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a circuit view of a conventional repeater provided in a global input/output line; and

FIG. 2 is a circuit view of a repeater provided in a global input/output line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail through examples and exemplary embodiments. The embodiments are just for exemplifying the present invention, and the scope of right to be protected of the present invention is not limited by them.

FIG. 2 is a circuit view of a repeater provided in a global input/output line according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 2, the repeater of the present invention includes a first data transmitter 1 having first and second drivers 11 and 12 for outputting data signals of the global input/output line through different transmission routes (including Node A and Node B, respectively) in a first signal direction (A to B) in response to transmission direction control signals CTRL and CTRLB, and a third driver 2 for driving the global input/output line in response to the output signal of the first data transmitter 1.

In addition, the repeater of the present invention includes a second data transmitter 3 having fourth and fifth drivers 31 and 32 for outputting data signals of the global input/output line through different transmission routes (including Node C and Node D, respectively) in a second signal direction (B to A) in response to the transmission direction control signals CTRL and CTRLB, and a sixth driver 4 for driving the global input/output line in response to the output signal of the second data transmitter 3.

The first data transmitter 1 and the third driver 2 or the second data transmitter 3 and the sixth driver 4 are enabled according to the transmission direction control signals CTRL and CTRLB to transmit data signals of the global input/output line in bi-direction.

In addition, the repeater of the present invention further includes a first driver controller 5 for controlling the third driver 2 in response to the transmission direction control signals CTRL and CTRLB, and a second driver controller 6 for controlling the sixth driver 4 in response to the transmission direction control signals CTRL and CTRLB.

The first driver controller 5 includes pull-up driver P3 and pull-down driver N3 for pull-up driving the output terminal of the first driver 11 and pull-down driving the output terminal of the second driver 12, respectively, in response to the transmission direction control signals CTRL and CTRLB. The second driver controller 6 includes pull-up driver P7 and pull-down driver N7 for pull-up driving the output terminal of the fourth driver 31 and pull-down driving the output terminal of the fifth driver 32, respectively, in response to the transmission direction control signals CTRL and CTRLB.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the first driver 11 includes a pull-up driver P1 and a pull-down driver N1 and the second driver 12 includes a pull-up driver P2 and a pull-down driver N2, in order to pull-up/pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signals CTRL and CTRLB. In addition, the fourth driver 31 includes a pull-up driver P5 and a pull-down driver N5 and the fifth driver 32 includes a pull-up driver P6 and a pull-down driver N6, in order to pull-up/pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signals CTRL and CTRLB.

Further, the third and sixth drivers 2 and 4 include pull-up drivers P4 and P8, respectively, in order to pull-up drive the global input/output line in response to the output signals of the first and fourth drivers 11 and 31. In addition, the third and sixth drivers 2 and 4 include pull-down drivers N4 and N8, respectively, in order to pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to the output signals of the second and fifth drivers 12 and 32.

Hereinafter, the operation of the repeater according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

In the case of transmitting data from A to B, if the control signal CTRL has a high level, the control signal CTRLB has a low level. At this time, NMOSs of the pull-down drivers N1 and N2 and PMOSs of the pull-up drivers P1 and P2 of the first and second drivers 11 and 12 are turned ON, respectively. In addition, PMOS of the pull-up driver P3 and NMOS of the pull-down driver N3 of the first driver controller 5 are turned OFF.

Thus, the data signal of A is transferred to Node A and Node B. That is, if the data of A has a high level, Node A and Node B have low levels. Therefore, PMOS of the pull-up driver P4 of the second driver 2 is turned ON and NMOS of the pull-down driver N4 of the second driver 2 is turned OFF, so that data having a high level are transmitted to B. In addition, if the data of A has a low level, Node A and Node B have high levels. Therefore, PMOS of the pull-up driver P4 of the second driver 2 is turned OFF and NMOS of the pull-down driver N4 of the second driver 2 is turned ON, so that data having a low level are transmitted to B.

At this time, PMOSs of the pull-up drivers P5 and P6 of the fourth and fifth drivers 31 and 32 and NMOSs of the pull-down drivers N5 and N6 of the fourth and fifth drivers 31 and 32 are turned OFF and PMOS of the pull-up driver P7 is turned ON, so that Node C has a high level.

In addition, NMOS of the pull-down driver N7 has a high level so that Node D has a low level. The PMOS of the pull-up driver P8 and the NMOS of the pull-down driver N8 are turned OFF by Node C and Node D.

That is, if the control signal CTRL has a high level, data are transmitted from A to B and data transmission from B to A is blocked.

In the case of transmitting data from B to A, if the control signal CTRL has a low level, the control signal CTRLB has a high level. At this time, NMOSs of the pull-down drivers N5 and N6 and PMOSs of the pull-up drivers P5 and P6 of the fourth and fifth drivers 31 and 32 are turned ON, respectively. In addition, PMOS of the pull-up driver P7 and NMOS of the pull-down driver N7 are turned OFF.

Thus, the data signal of B is transferred to Node C and Node D. That is, if the data of B has a high level, Node C and Node D have low levels. Therefore, PMOS of the pull-up driver P8 is turned ON and NMOS of the pull-down driver N8 is turned OFF, so that data having a high level is transmitted to A. In addition, if the data of B has a low level, Node C and Node D have high levels. Therefore, PMOS of the pull-up driver P8 is turned OFF and NMOS of the pull-down driver N8 is turned ON, so that data having a low level is transmitted to A.

At this time, PMOSs of the pull-up drivers P1 and P2 of the first and second drivers 11 and 12 and NMOSs of the pull-down drivers N1 and N2 of the first and second drivers 11 and 12 are turned OFF and PMOS of the pull-up driver P3 is turned ON, so that Node A has a high level. In addition, NMOS of the pull-down driver N3 has a high level so that Node B has a low level. The PMOS of the pull-up driver P4 and the NMOS of the pull-down driver N4 are turned OFF by Node A and Node B.

That is, if the control signal CTRL has a low level, data are transmitted from B to A and data transmission from A to B is blocked.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

The present disclosure claims priority to Korean application number 10-2007-0133641, filed on Dec. 18, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

1. A repeater of a global input/output line, the repeater comprising: a data transmitter including first and second drivers configured to output data signals of the global input/output line through different transmission routes in response to a transmission direction control signal; and a data output unit including a third driver configured to drive the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the data transmitter.
 2. The repeater of claim 1, further comprising a driver controller configured to control an on-off operation of the third driver in response to the transmission direction control signal.
 3. The repeater of claim 2, wherein the driver controller includes a pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive an output terminal of the first driver in response to the transmission direction control signal and a pull-down driver for pull-down driving an output terminal of the second driver in response to the transmission direction control signal, and the third driver is turned off when the transmission direction control signal is not activated.
 4. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the first driver includes: a first pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal; and a first pull-down driver configured to pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal.
 5. The repeater of claim 4, wherein the second driver includes: a second pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal; and a second pull-down driver configured to pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal.
 6. The repeater of claim 5, wherein the third driver includes: a third pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the first driver; and a third pull-down driver configured to pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the second driver.
 7. A repeater of a global input/output line, the repeater comprising: a first data transmitter including first and second drivers configured to output data signals of the global input/output line through different transmission routes in a first signal direction in response to a transmission direction control signal; a first data output unit including a third driver configured to drive the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the first data transmitter; a second data transmitter including fourth and fifth drivers for outputting data signals of the global input/output line through different transmission routes in a second signal direction in response to the transmission direction control signal; and a second data output unit including a sixth driver configured to drive the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the second data transmitter, wherein the first data transmitter and the third driver or the second data transmitter and the sixth driver are enabled according to the transmission direction control signal to allow the global input/output line to transmit data signals in bi-direction.
 8. The repeater of claim 7, further comprising: a first driver controller configured to control an on-off operation of the third driver in response to the transmission direction control signal; and a second driver controller configured to control an on-off operation of the sixth driver in response to the transmission direction control signal
 9. The repeater of claim 8, wherein the first driver controller includes a pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive an output terminal of the first driver in response to the transmission direction control signal and a pull-down driver for pull-down driving an output terminal of the second driver in response to the transmission direction control signal, and the third driver is turned on/off according to an activation of the transmission direction control signal.
 10. The repeater of claim 8, wherein the second driver controller includes a pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive an output terminal of the fourth driver in response to the transmission direction control signal and a pull-down driver configured to pull-down drive an output terminal of the fifth driver in response to the transmission direction control signal, and the sixth driver is turned on/off according to an activation of the transmission direction control signal.
 11. The repeater of claim 7, wherein the first driver includes: a first pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal; and a first pull-down driver configured to pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal, and wherein the second driver includes: a second pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal; and a second pull-down driver configured to pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal.
 12. The repeater of claim 11, wherein the fourth driver includes: a fourth pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal; and a fourth pull-down driver configured to pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal, and the fifth driver includes: a fifth pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal; and a sixth pull-down driver configured to pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to the transmission direction control signal.
 13. The repeater of claim 12, wherein the third driver includes: a third pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the first driver; and a third pull-down driver configured to pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the second driver.
 14. The repeater of claim 13, wherein the sixth driver includes: a sixth pull-up driver configured to pull-up drive the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the fourth driver; and a sixth pull-down driver configured to pull-down drive the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the fifth driver.
 15. A repeater of a global input/output line, the repeater comprising: a first data driver configured to drive a global input/output line in a first signal direction in response to a transmission direction control signal; a second data driver configured to drive a global input/output line in a second signal direction in response to a transmission direction control signal; and a controller configured to control an on-off operation of the first data driver and the second data driver in response to the transmission direction control signal, wherein the first data driver and the second data driver are enabled according to the transmission direction control signal to allow the global input/output line to transmit data signals in bi-direction.
 16. The repeater of claim 15, wherein the first data driver includes: a first data transmitter including first and second drivers configured to output data signals of the global input/output line through different transmission routes in a first signal direction in response to a transmission direction control signal; and a first data output unit including a third driver configured to drive the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the first data transmitter.
 17. The repeater of claim 16, wherein the second data driver includes: a second data transmitter including fourth and fifth drivers for outputting data signals of the global input/output line through different transmission routes in a second signal direction in response to the transmission direction control signal; and a second data output unit including a sixth driver configured to drive the global input/output line in response to an output signal of the second data transmitter.
 18. The repeater of claim 17, wherein the controller: a first driver controller configured to control an on-off operation of the third driver in response to the transmission direction control signal; and a second driver controller configured to control an on-off operation of the sixth driver in response to the transmission direction control signal. 